Building opened
VISITORS WERE given a guide tour of Longslade's
new Design & Technology Centre following the official opening
of the building in September.
Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Anna Pullen was the
guest of honour together with the Mayor of Charnwood Debbie Green,
Parish Council Chairman Nigel Coleman and Chairman of Wanlip
Parish Meeting Richard Kinton.
Also attending were the architects of the £750,000 building
Dykes Naylor, contractors Thomas Fish along with past and present
staff, governors, representatives from local schools and students
form Longslade.
Development triggers
WHEN DEVELOPMENT of the Hallam Fields site
starts, each phase will be accompanied by a number of development
triggers.
These are requirements that the developer has to meet as the
work progresses. Charnwood Borough Council has released an indication
of these triggers.
On occupancy of 150 dwellings - junction improvements to Station,
Tempest and Park Roads
Prior to 150 - the completion of Greengate Lane/Sibson Road junction
Prior to 200 dwellings - the Development of the northern access
into the site - releasing the employment site.
Prior to 400 dwellings - the finalising of the northern access
The bus lane to Redhill and junction improvements and bus priority
measures to be completed with a link to the Park & Ride being
constructed by the Developers.
Subsequently, improvements to the A46/A6 Junction second stage
improvements including signalling through the Highways Agency
Prior to the occupancy of 500 dwellings - the junctions at Oakfield
and Goscote Hall Roads
Prior to 750 dwellings - construction of footpath to rear of
site to Wanlip and footbridge over A6 -
At this stage also, the final improvements to the A46/A6 Junction
Feast of music
ONE OF the best-known smaller choirs in
the East Midlands, the Leicestershire Chorale will be visiting
Birstall in December to sing a concert of music for Advent and
Christmas.
The thirty or so singers come from all parts of Leicestershire
to rehearse once a week and present three major concerts a year,
usually at St James the Greater church on London Road. Their
next performance will be on Saturday November 16 at 7.30pm when
they will be singing Handel’s ‘Solomon’ with professional
soloists and orchestra.
The choir also travels around the county performing in different
churches or stately homes and this year they are to sing in Birstall
on Sunday December 8 at 7.30pm in the Parish Church on Church
Hill. The programme will include season readings and organ music
as well as a wide range of choral music. Their present conductor,
Jonathan Tilbrook, works professionally with opera groups, choirs
and orchestras around the country and abroad and is the latest
of several distinguished conductors (Peter Fletcher, Paul McCreesh)
to lead the Chorale since it was founded 25 years ago by the
then Director of Education, Andrew Fairbairn (who is the Chorale’s
president). Tickets for the concert on December 8 will cost £6
(£4 concessions), including a glass of wine and can be
obtained from Beryl McHugh (2674913), Gill Chester (2120236)
or at the door. Proceeds will be shared between the Chorale and
the church’s organ repair project.
If you love good music, please come along and support either
or both of these events.
Mrs Karen Saunders and Georgina Fearn (9)
get creative at Birstall library’s family learning event.
Free fun events at library
BIRSTALL LIBRARY, in co-operation with
Longslade College, recently held a morning of free fun events
for all the family as part of the National Family Learning Weekend.
The special day on Saturday October 12 was part of a national
weekend of learning events in hundreds of community venues, co-ordinated
by the Campaign for Learning.
Parents and children had a choice of two inventive activities.
For the creative there was a chance to make instant pictures
using fabrics and an iron. The pictures were framed to take home.
Meanwhile parents and children were able to create a personalised
storybook together using computers at the library. There was
also a special storytelling session and a prize draw to win books,
sweets and adult education vouchers.
The events were attended by 16 adults and 28 children and judged
to be a huge success by the organisers and all who attended.
Longslade Family Learning Co-ordinator, Lyn McDermott, is now
hoping to stage a similar event next year and possibly extend
the format to other libraries and community venues.
Wanlip meeting needs you
TOO SMALL for a Parish Council, the village
of Wanlip has a Parish meeting that meets twice a year.
The village needs a new Chairman as Richard Kinton, who has held
the post for six years, is stepping down.
As well as chairing the twice yearly meetings, the Chairman acts
as a point of contact for the County and Borough Councils as
well as Birstall Parish Council.
The meeting has a budget of around £500 a year and is principally
responsible for street lighting and administering Neighbourhood
Watch.
If you are interested in the position and live in Wanlip, contact
Mrs D Toon, Microdot House, Rectory Road, Wanlip
TG news
THE TOWNSWOMEN’S Guild September meeting
was a relaxed affair after the summer break.
The committee prepared a harvest supper for members, which everyone
seemed to enjoy and afterwards the time was spent chatting. The
sales table was manned by Dot Rowley where each item was blue
in colour. During the business beforehand, a letter of thanks
from Buckingham Palace was read out stating that the Queen had
appreciated the framed photographs of the Guild Branches in our
Federation which were sent to her as greetings for her Golden
Jubilee.
Jean Veitch helped Rainbows once again, finding volunteers to
make cakes. The Social Studies Group met at Sileby on September
4 to have dinner at the White Swan which was superb.
The next meeting of the Townswomen’s Guild will be on Tuesday
November 19 at Highcliffe School, Birstall at 7.30pm. Felicity
Austin will be the guest speaker, her topic being ‘A Second
Slice of Christmas Fare’. Visitors welcome. Social Studies
will meet on November 4.
From A Boden
Free trees available
FARMERS, LANDOWNERS, Parish Councils and
community groups wishing to plant trees this winter may be able
to get help from the Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project.
The free trees are available through a scheme, based at Leicestershire
County Council, in partnership with the International Tree Foundation
(ITF).
Applicants must undertake to maintain the trees for a minimum
ten years. Advice and guidance in successful establishment and
management of young trees will be provided.
Those eligible for the scheme can apply for up to 100 (around
1 metre high) young trees and shrubs, chosen from a list of native
species. Trees are available for a variety of suitable planting
schemes including playing fields, allotments, hedgerows and field
corners on private and public land. The Project cannot however
give free trees for planting in private gardens. The site of
the planting must be accessible within reasonable hours or visible
from a public highway.
The Stepping Stones Countryside Management Project is a partnership
that aims to improve access for all, enhance the environment,
improve people’s awareness and encourage community participation
in the countryside around Leicester. Stepping Stones Free Tree
Scheme is a partnership initiative with the International Tree
Foundation (Leicestershire & Rutland branch).
Numbers of free trees are limited so get your applications in
as soon as possible. For a Free Trees application form, telephone
Andy Jackson on 0116 265 7221 or write to Sustainable Development,
Community Services Department, Leicestershire County Council,
County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RJ. The closing date for
applications is December 20, 2002. For further information on
the International Tree Foundation please request the (ITF) information
leaflet with the Free Tree pack.
Methodist news
Don’t miss our Christmas Tree Festival
on the last two days of November.
Starting at 10am on Friday November 29 the Church is to be filled
with decorated Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes. Accompanied
children are free, but we are charging £1 for adults to
our Vision 2000 fund (renovations and alterations to the church
with one third of the proceeds going to The Gambia).
On Friday evening (29th) from 6pm a Christmas Market will take
place outdoors with a whole range of goods, mostly suitable for
Christmas, with music and hot food available too. If you do get
too cold you can retreat into the coffee shop to warm up where
coffee will be served up until 10pm when the festival and market
closes.
The festival and market re-opens at 10am on Saturday 30th running
through the day when lunches will also be served. This special
event finally ends at 4pm on Saturday.
Although most of the spaces for Christmas Trees have been allocated,
if you or your group wish to decorate a tree, then please contact
Mrs Pat Hilton 2671364.
The coffee shop, which is open Tuesday to Friday morning, is
run jointly with volunteers from all three churches in Birstall.
The profit from the Coffee Shop was recently split with donations
going to LOROS £900, the Marakisa clinic in The Gambia
£500 and £300 to St Theresa’s for a charity
of their choice. The Saturday Coffee Shop profit goes to whichever
group runs the Coffee Shop on a particular Saturday.
Churches Together in Birstall recently ran a “Galloping
Gourmet” evening which raised £300 split equally between
NCH Action for Children and the Children of Chernobyl.
At the recent Auction (for Vision 2000) a further £500
was raised.
Our Bright Hour group for more senior ladies has raised funds
to buy a special trampoline for the playgroup for children with
special needs.
We have received another newsletter from Deborah Gray in Dakar
in Senegal. Deborah tells us that it is very hot and sweaty there,
quite unlike our British autumn & winter. Wok has progressed
in the preparation of a dictionary of Saafi-Saafi works. By mid-September
the dictionary ran to 75 pages. It is a language used by about
90,000 people in Senegal. Deborah is working for Wycliffe Bible
Translators and is expected to be back in Birstall in mid-December.
When members of the clergy do anything they shouldn’t it
inevitably catches the headlines. The comment that “Sue
Wicks is doing drugs” rapidly meant more sense when I heard
this was to be her topic when she relinquishes St James one Sunday
to attend the Methodist pulpit on November 24 for Social Responsibility
Sunday (10.30am).
Amanda Gertrude (right) as the dame, with
Katy Talbot as Hansel and Hannah Bourgault as Gretel.
Book now for panto
WHAT HAPPENS at the end of November? The
remains of the fireworks from the 5th? A visit to Santa’s
grotto? Starting the Christmas shopping? No! It’s HATS panto,
of course.
This year it’s Hansel & Gretel by Steve Cox. A traditional
pantomime with a few twists to the traditional tale of the adventures
of the brother and sister of the title.
You will find all the usual ingredients. Music, dance, jokes
(well, one or two) and, of course, spectacle! Besides the title
characters you will meet their Mum (the outrageous Dame), there’s
pirates, Red Indians, cannibals, a good witch, and a wicked witch
who eats children (good opportunity to bring the kids along if
they’ve been particularly naughty)
So make sure you don’t miss out on the fun and frolics.
Book your tickets now for November 28,29 & 30. Evening performances
are at 7.15pm and there will be a matinee on the Saturday at
2.30pm. Doors are open half an hour before curtain up. Tickets
for the panto are available now and you can reserve yours by
phoning the box office on 0116 2128757. Prices are £4 (£3
for concessions). As usual there will be a reduction for group
bookings.
As usual, we would love to see more people from Birstall and
the surrounding area coming to see our shows or actually joining
our happy band of thespians. We would still welcome more help
for this year’s pantomime, both on stage and off; in particular,
help with costumes and scenery. So, if you have a couple of hours
or more to spare each week, why not get in touch by phoning HATS
secretary on the above number or just turn up at Greengate Hall
on any Wednesday after 7pm.
Bowlers’ succesful year
THE OUTDOOR bowls season finished last
month and Birstall Bowling Club have had another successful year.
The club won four trophies: the singles; mixed pairs; triples,
and fours at the Leicester City & District Parks Bowls finals
in July.
Meanwhile Birstall’s Sue Wilson won a bronze medal in the
mixed pairs at the World Paralympic Bowls Championships in Adelaide,
Australia and gained first place at the UK Blind Bowls Singles
Championships in Perth, Scotland.
The junior section has again proved popular with two of the players
reaching club competition finals, details of which are below.
Ladies Winners
Championship: Diane Hurst, Runner Up: Betty Crowson; Handicap:
Pam Ratcliffe, Runner Up: Jan Everitt; Maiden: Betty Smith, Runner
Up: Sue Wilson; Three Wood: Betty Crowson, Runner Up: Jan Everitt;
Two Wood: Nicky Greasley, Runner Up: Diane Hurst; Pairs: Val
Hollis & Diane Hurst, Runners Up: Emily Hurst & Marjorie
Hawksley
Men’s Winners
Championship: Stuart Hartop, Runner Up: Wayne Parkin; Handicap:
Andy Wye, Runner Up:
Wayne Parkin; Maiden: John Lee, Runner Up: Bob Cooper; Three
Wood: Dennis Measom, Runner Up: John Lee; Two Wood: John Hurst,
Runner Up: Stuart Hartop; Pairs: Bob Cooper & Jim Fearn,
Runners Up: Grahame White & Dave Clarke
Mixed Competition Winners
Saunders Cup: Nicky Greasley & Dave Clarke, Runners Up: Diane
& John Hurst Jnr. Adnett Pairs: Diane Hurst & John Lee,
runners Up: Velma Allen & John Hurst
Every season, Birstall Bowling Club play Rushey Mead for the
St John trophy, as well as raising money for the local St John
Ambulance. Birstall won this year’s match and thanks to
money raised through a raffle and donations from both clubs a
cheque was presented to two of the local St John representatives
for £200.
Parish Council Notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on October 14.
Mr D Tupley and Mr J S Aujla were co-opted to serve as members
of Birstall Parish Council.
Police Inspector Duncan Cullen and Area Commander Ian Stripp
were present at the meeting. Inspector Cullen reported that there
was a significant reduction in crime in 2002 compared to 2001
and said that the detection rate for crime in Birstall was 34
per cent.
He reported that the Police had conducted a number of initiatives
in Birstall over the last three months which had resulted in
three arrests for drug offences including the possession of drug
making equipment. He said that contrary to popular belief that
the Police were going soft on possession of drugs, 10 people
in Birstall had recently been arrested for that offence. He added
that the Police were supporting local drug support groups such
as the Susan Jones Group and the Birstall and Wanlip Drug Forum.
He urged the public to report any information relating to drug
crime, and any other kind of crime, to the freephone Crimestoppers
number (0800 555111) which is an anonymous service.
Inspector Cullen said that bicycle patrols of Watermead Country
Park were providing high visibility policing and had the added
bonus of improving the fitness of Birstall’s beat Constable
Kevin Palmer.
He said that he felt the Gunns’ Gym was an excellent initiative.
He reported that officers and traffic wardens were regularly
patrolling Moorgate Avenue in response to parking problems, and
that speed checks had been conducted on the A6.
Inspector Cullen said that the Police took seriously complaints
by the public of harassment by officers, and reported on his
efforts in investigate the remarks made by Kevin Unitt of Birstall,
both in a letter to the Birstall Post and at a meeting of the
Parish Council. He said that despite repeated attempts, the Police
had been unable to obtain the necessary details from Mr Unitt
to investigate the matter successfully.
Area Commandeer Ian Stripp said that a second beat officer for
Birstall had been identified and would be appointed as soon as
possible. He said that there were already other officers besides
PC Kevin Palmer working in Birstall, and that although Beat
Officers did an important job, they did not get involved in specialist
areas, such as drugs, and had not been involved in the recent
drugs operation in the village. He said that the Police were
looking to recruit Special Constables and it was now possible
for them to be confined to one beat area, such as Birstall.
Councillor Chris Clarke offered to resign from the Parish Council
if the clerk could produce a letter from Mr Tony Roe of the Leicestershire
& Rutland Association of Parish & Local Councils, confirming
that the verbal advice Mr Roe had given the clerk, and which
the clerk had reported at the last council meeting, was accurate.
This was advice relating to the setting up of the Management
and Policy committee, which Cllr Clarke says has been done improperly.
The Council agreed to grant a dispensation to Cllr Bernard Crayfourd,
who has been unable to attend Council meetings because of ill
health.
The Council agreed to invite the Mayor of Charnwood, Debbie Green,
to spend a day visiting Birstall next spring.
It was reported that there were seven disabled car parking spaces
provided on Sibson Road between the Alliance & Leicester
and the Crossways. Two on the slip road near Birstall Dental
practice, two near Barclays bank and three in The Crossways carpark.
It was agreed that the vandalised seats in the bus shelters on
the A6 gave a poor impression of the village and enquiries will
be made about getting them repaired.
It was reported that a total of 62 Christmas trees will be installed
by the Council this year. It was agreed that the provision of
additional litter bins on Sibson Road be included in the Precept
review. Quotations for the provision of an overhead barrier to
prevent itinerants parking on the School lane playing field will
be obtained.
The date of the next meeting is November 11.
Talented players
LADIES AND gentlemen of Birstall, it’s
time to put your hands together for the talented teams of your
village tennis club.
In this summer’s Leicestershire doubles leagues, Birstall
Watermead men’s first team took the major honours, winning
all nine of their matches, finishing champions of Group 6A with
78 points, 13 points ahead of their nearest challengers, Market
Harboroough. The men’s second team finished a creditable
fourth place in Group 7A.
Meanwhile the ladies deserve high praise, with their first team
finishing in fifth place in Group 2, and the second team winning
promotion, ending runners-up in Group 5B.
Congratulations are also due to the mixed first team who were
champions of Division 6.
To round off the summer season, Birstall Watermead held a successful
Finals Day in the club’s own championship.
In the men’s singles final, David Hutchinson beat Mark Whiteman
and in the ladies singles, Laura Morley beat Mary Whiteman. The
men’s doubles event saw Roger Bartlett and James Berry defeating
Mike Deacon and Adam Warrington.
Taking the women’s doubles title were Mary Whiteman and
Looby McCaffrey, who beat Laura Morley and Sylvia Hitchen. In
the mixed doubles, David Hutchinson and Christine Muir beat Mary
and Mark Whiteman in a closely-fought match.
This year’s presentation evening will be held at Birstall
United FC on Saturday, November 23 at 8pm, featuring a quiz and
buffet.
Matches and social events are held all year round, and anyone
interested in joining the tennis club, which is situated at the
Co-op Sports and Social Club on Birstall Road, can contact the
chairman Mel Whiteman, 136 Birstall Road, tel: 2676367, secretary
Carol Vincent, 138 Birstall Road, tel: 2674293, or treasurer
Mike Deacon, 19 Newton Drive, tel: 2207896.
Drill seeks owner
POLICE ARE hoping to reunite a distinctive
drill with its rightful owner.
The drill was recovered during the execution of a warrant at
an address in Syston.
The pedestal drill, which is about 3½ft tall, is made
by ‘Clarkes’ and is called a ‘metal worker’.
It is blue with a red guard and is very clean. It has three or
four partly drilled holes on the block through use.
Officers are keen to speak to anyone who is missing a drill like
this one and anyone who believes it may belong to them is asked
to contact Detective Constable Steve Winterton on Leicester (0116)
222 2222 ext 4253 or PC Robert Sewell on ext. 4231. Both officers
are based at Syston police station.
The Mayor of Charnwood Debbie Green, helped
by her consort for the day Genevieve Silk (7) the Chairman of
Birstall Parish Council Nigel Coleman and architect Paul Harris
of Mitchell Harris Partnership, officially opens the Sibson Road
enhancement scheme.
New look Sibson Road
THE £250,000 enhancement of Birstall’s
Sibson Road has given the village centre a modern new look.
The Parish Council has been pressing for increased parking and
an improved street scene for more than 20 years.
Parish Council Chairman Nigel Coleman said: “The original
intention was to retain Sibson Road as a bustling thoroughfare
and I think that has been achieved. We now have several street
cafe type areas which I think is great to see.
“The street scene is tidier and a pleasure to walk along
and the landscape architects have finished the job to a very
high standard.”
Gwen Ward, partner in Krusty’s, said: “I think it’s
very good. It looks nice and has brightened up the area. The
litter bins we have got look very good, but we need more.”
David Irwin of Shoepermarket said: “I like the layout but
litter is a problem and the area can look scruffy because of
it. We need more litter bins. It would be an improvement if the
white painted metal pillars on the parade were replaced with
stainless steel ones.”
Vipul Mehta of NTL Computer Services said: “The scheme is
good, it has improved the overall look and the feel of the area
has changed for the better.”
Alf Hales of the Fresh Approach said: “It does look nice,
but on balance it hasn’t been worth doing. Trade was affected
very badly when the work was being done, down forty per cent,
and it has only picked up a little now. My customers have got
used to going elsewhere. It has been an enormous hassle.”
George Plunkett of Glenwood Fine Art said: “It has improved
the area, looks nice, and is generally
a safer surface for walking.
“On the negative side, the steps outside my shop have become
one of the best skateboarding parks in the Midlands and are also
a safety hazard, especially for older people in icy weather.
After a meeting with Mr Plunkett, the architects are looking
at ways to address this problem, and may erect stainless steel
railings along the top step.
Mr Plunkett added: “The shoppers’ car park on The Crossways
is excellent. I have definitely seen an increase in the numbers
of people walking past my shop having parked there.”
Steve Burrage of Birstall Jewellers said: “It’s a much
brighter, smarter environment now. Some older people have said
to me the surface could have been flatter and I have doubts about
the stainless steel railings which look like something you’d
tie a horse to. I would have preferred a lower rail.”
There are two elements of the scheme that remain unfinished:
a piece of public art and an information board. Landscape Architects
the Mitchell Harris Partnership will be providing designs for
these, which will go before the Parish Council for approval.
The design brief for the information board includes that it should
be decorative and identify the location of village amenities
for visitors: carparks, post office, toilets, library etc.
The piece of public art may be situated opposite Barclays bank.
The Parish Council has agreed to discuss the provision of additional
litter bins at their next precept meeting, when they discuss
their budget for the year.
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